Billet loading apparatus



Jan. 7, 1964 I E. "r. VOGEL 3,116,339

BILLET LOADING APPARATUS Filed March 22, 1961 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ERIC T. VOGEL AGENT.

Jan. 7, 1964 E. T. VOGEL BILLET LOADING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22. 1961 INVENTOR ERIC T. VOGEL AGE NT.

Jan. 7, 1964 E. 1'. VOGEL BILLET LOADING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 22, 1961 INVENTOR ERIC T. VOGEL GENT.

Jan. 7, 1964 E. T. VOGEL 3,116,839

BILLET LOADING APPARATUS Filed March 22, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ERIC T. VOGEL %& 3%

' AGENT.

Jan. 7, 1964 E. T. VOGEL BILLET LOADING APPARATUS Y 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 22, 1961 I Jan. 7, 1964 E. T. VOGEL 3,116,839

BILLET LOADING APPARATUS Filed March 22. 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR ERIC T. VOGEL AGENT.

United States Patent 3,116,839 BILLET LOADING APPARATUS Eric T. Vogel, Elmhurst, NIiL, assignor to Baldwin-Lima- Harnilton Qorporation, Philadelphia, Pa a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 97 ,654. Claims. (Cl. 214-1) This invention relates to billet loading apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for loading a billet in a machine operating along a substantially horizontal path.

Apparatus for this purpose are adapted to receive a billet at a feeding station and convey it to a charging station where the billet is shifted on the apparatus along the horizontal path of the machine to be loaded. The shifting or charging movement which serves to insert the billet in the machine is normally carried out through elements of the latter so that it is not a function of the loading apparatus, except for the fact that the billet is supported thereon.

In one kind of arrangement, the feeding station is positioned underneath the horizontal operating path so that the billet need merely be lifted to a higher level to convey it to the charging station. This is relatively simple but in many instances it is not desirable to locate the feeding station underneath the machine. In another type of arrangement, the feeding station is positioned at one side of the horizontal operating path. Though this requires loading equipment of a somewhat more intricate nature, the parts are more readily accessible and the movements of the billet can be easily observed. My improvement relates to the latter type of arrangement.

Loading apparatus of the last-mentioned kind usually comprise a carrier which is movable transverse y to the operating path of the machine to be loaded. When moved to the charging station, the carrier is first located close thereto but is withdrawn at a certain stage of the operation to clear the horizontal path. This withdrawal must be carried out rapidly and completed at a precise time to avoid interference with movable parts of the machine.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved loading apparatus for conveying a billet from a lateral region to the horizontal operating path of a machine, which is constructed so as to facilitate rapid clearance of the horizontal path at a predetermined stage of the operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide billet loading apparatus of the aforesaid type, which comprises collapsible structure of relatively simple design.

t is also an object of the invention to provide loading apparatus for conveying a billet to a charging station of a machine, in which a composite, collapsible structure may remain at the charging station in collapsed condition without interfering with the main working operation so that only the collapsing step need be performed at a precise time and withdrawal of the entire composite structure at this instant is rendered unnecessary.

t is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus adapted for loading a billet in a machine and including a composite, collapsible structure which after loading the billet may remain at a charging station in collapsed condition to support an auxiliary tool to be inserted in the machine.

t is an additional object of the invention to provide a billet loading apparatus having a composite, collapsible structure which is caused to collapse by positive and simple means.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide loading apparatus in which a billet support is automatically moved from a collapsed to an erected position when a carrier associated therewith is tilted.

ice

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention by way of example,

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of apparatus according to the invention, similar to PEG. 2 but showing the position at the start of the operation;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken generally on line 22 of the fragmentary FIG. 3, the parts being shown in an intermediate position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic elevational view taken in the direction of arrow 3 in FIG. 2, some of the parts being shown in section;

FIG. 3A is a section taken along line 3a-3a of FIG. 3 and illustrates a detail;

FIGS. 4 to 6 are diagrammatic views generally similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating dir'ferent positions of the parts;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic sectional view of modified apparatus according to the invention, taken generally on line 77 of the fragmentary FIG. 9 but showing the position at the start or" the operation;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic sectional View taken generally on line d-8 of the fragmentary FIG. 9, the parts being shown in an intermediate position;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic elevational view taken in the direction of arrow 9 in FG. 8, some of the parts being shown in section;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are diagrammatic views generally similar to FIG. 9 but showing difierent positions of the parts; and

FIG. 12 is a diagram of forces as they occur during the return movement of certain parts before the position of FIG. 7 is reached.

FIRST EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawings, the invention is illustrated therein as applied to a conventional machine or press including a frame 14, a reciprocable tool such as a stem or plunger 15 (FIG. 3) movable along a horizontal axis or path 16, an actuated tool holder 18 slidably supported on a rear portion 2d of the machine, a cylindrical mold or container 2?. extending along the axis or path 16 and mounted in a housing 23 which is supported on a front structure 2A- (FIG. 1), and tie rods 26 extending from the front to the rear of the machine.

Loading apparatus for conveying billets to the machine comprises a double-acting fluid motor 32 pivotally mounted at 34 on a base member or bracket 36. The latter is attached to frame 14 which in the example shown is common to the machine and loading apparatus. A pair of guide links it), t2 are pivotally mounted on bracket 36 at 44, 46 for movement about parallel horizontal axes. Link 45 serves at the same time as an actuating member and has an extension 4'? of the bell crank type to which the fluid motor 32. is pivotally connected at 43. Pivotally attached to the upper ends of links it 42 is a carrier generally indicated at Ell, the pivot connections for the carrier being shown at 52, 5 t will be clear that the pair of links 46, 42 are arranged to guide the carrier 5% for motion substantially in parallel. The carrier t) includes a cross link or bar 5d, a plate member 62, welded or otherwise rigidly attached to one side of cross link 56, sidewalls 64 integral with the plate 62; and having parallel slots es therein, and a lower wall 63 welded to the sidewalls 64.

A pivot 70 having a head 72 extends through holes in the sidewalls 64 at the top thereof and is secured in place at "74, the axis of the pivot being disposed in a vertical plane intersecting the horizontal path 16 at right angles. Mounted on pivot 70' with the aid of a tubular spacer 76 is a billet support or pair of arms 8% in the form of a rigid structure having inclined upper faces 82 which cooperate with each other and in combination represent a trough-like shape. To move the support 80 relative to carrier a fluid rnotor 84 is secured to the lower wall 68 of the carrier and has a piston rod 86 which extends upwardly through an opening in wall 68 to carry a pin 88 guided in the slots 66 of sidewalls 64. The main'rnum stroke of fluid motor 84 corresponds to the length of the parallel slots 66. A link 96 is pivotally mounted on pin 88 by means of its forked end 91 and connected to the support arms tit) at its other end where the link may be provided with integral pivots 22 having fastening means 94 thereon as shown in FIG. 3A.

in addition to forming a trough, the upper faces 82 of arms 80 serve as cam means and extend over angular portions 96 (FIG. 3) at the free ends of arms 80 to cooperate with correspondingly shaped follower or roller means 1% mounted in a slot 102 of the tool holder 13.

Operation At the start of the operation, carrier 50 is in its initial or billet-receiving position in which an adjustable, lower stop screw 112 mounted on base 36 engages the link extension 4'7 as shown in FIG. 1, the top of plate 62 being at a feeding station 119. Billet support St) is held in an upper, erected position by fluid motor 34 so as to project from the carrier 50 substantially at right angles and to extend along a stationary feeding table or chute 114 towards the rear of the machine. Motor 84 has reached its upper stroke limit in the slots 66. When a round bilct 7.29 is caused to roll down the table 114, it will be received on the trough-shaped upper surface of support 86 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The length of the support or pair of arms tit is generally on the order of that of the billet 129 so that the billet may be securely supported thereon, whereas the carrier 5t} extends along a minor portion of the length of the billet. If required, a tool such as a dummy 122 (FIG. 3) may likewise be deposited on the support 80.

Fluid motor 32 is then actuated and with the aid of links ati, 4-2 will move carrier 5t having the parts 80, 120, 122 thereon towards path 16 until an adjustable upper stop screw 126 mounted on link 4t contacts the proximate tie rod 26 (see FIG. 2). The top of plate 62 is now at a charging station 13% in close proximity to the container 22; and the support 80 which projects from plate 62 in cantilever fashion in the direction away from the container 22 is positioned adjacent the horizontal path or axis 16, the billet 120 and tool 122 being substantially concentric with the horizontal path (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

When tool holder 18 and stem are caused to move forward, the billet 1213 together with the tool 122 will be charged in the machine and, in the example shown, inserted into a chamber 132 of the container 22, the tool 122 protecting the stem from contact with the billet which often is preheated to high temperatures.

At a certain stage of the operation, i.e., when the tool holder 18 reaches a predetermined limit position wherein it approaches, or is in the region of, the billet support 8t} (FIG. 4), the latter must be withdrawn to avoid interference. This is accomplished in my device by collapsing the support 8%) on the carrier so that the carrier 50 proper may remain at the charging station at this time, which permits rapid action as only a limited mass has to be moved. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6, the collapse is caused by the follower means 100 contacting the faces 82 of support 86 as will be clear from FIG. 5, the support moving downward against the force exerted by fluid motor 84 which is connected to a constant source of pressure. Stem 15 will continue its advance to subject the billet to pressure and extrude the material or carry out other shaping operations. When the position of FIG. 6 is reached, the stem has completed its main work- 4 ing stroke and support 3%) is fully depressed, the members 60, 62 and the support being accommodated in slot 102 of tool holder 18.

Upon withdrawal of stem 15 the billet support returns automatically to its erected position due to the constant action of fluid pressure upon motor 84. When there'- after fluid motor 32 is reversed, carrier 50 with the erected support 86 thereon will again be moved to the feeding station 116.

It will be clear that the arrangement described provides for a simple and positive control of the downward movement of the billet support relative to carrier 5%). if desired, motor may be of the double-acting type and electrically controlled valves may be provided as an additional equipment to collapse the billet support even before the cam and follower means engage each other, and to carry out the erection of the support at a predetermined time. In case of failure of the electric elements, however, the billet support will still be positive- 1y collapsed by the cam and follower means so that nodue interference is positively prevented.

SECOND EMBODIMENT Referring now to the modification shown in FIGS. 7 to 12, some elements retained from the first embodiment without substantial change are designated by like numerals. it will be noted that the feeding station llti is located at the opposite side of the machine as compared with FIGS. 1 to 6. This is optional and depends on local conditions. A principal difference between the two embodiments resides in the fact that the action of gravity is utilized in operating the modified mechanism.

Container housing has a downwardly directed extension 142 (FIG. 7) on which a carrier or rocker is mounted by means of a pivot 152 engaging the lower end of the rocker, the latter being movable transversely to the horizontal axis or path 16 (FIG. 9). Housing Mil may be shiftable on slideways 154 (FIG. 7) of the front structure 24 of the machine and in this case rocker 15% will participate in any movements of the housing as it is mounted thereon. To oscillate rocker 150, a doubleacting fluid motor 156 is pivotally attached to the extension 142 of housing 140 at 158 and is also pivotally connected to the rocker at 160.

A pivot 17:) is secured to the rocker adjacent the upper end thereof by means such as a dowel pin (not shown). Mounted on pivot 170 for movement relative to the rocker 156 is a billet support or arm .180 having inclined upper faces 182 which conjointly form a trough-like portion. "I he arm 18% is recessed in the region of its pivotally mounted end as shown at 184 (FIG. 9). Rocker 150 has a top projection 19:) at the side facing the feeding station 11% (FIG. 7), and container 22 has a complementary projection or bracket 192 thereon at the opposite side adjacent its chamber 132, the projections 190 and 192 being adapted conjointly to form an extension of the trough-like faces 182 of arm 180. As shown, the bracket 192 may be somewhat longer or higher than projection 190 to securely retain any parts delivered to the apparatus in the direction toward the bracket.

Rotatably mounted on rocker is a shaft or pivot 26% which carries a toggle link 262, the link being sooured against rotation relative to pivot 2%. A cooperating toggle link 2164 is pivotally connected to link 282 at 2/ 6 and to arm 180 at 2%. The toggle links have a pair of engageable locking abutments 210, 211, respectively, on their adjacent ends to limit upward movement of the links about their pivots 259, 293, i.e., to lock the linkage in the position of FIG. 9 against further upward movement. A resilient means such as a tension spring 220 is secured to rocker 1% by means of an adjustable screw 222 and connected to one end of a cable 224 at 226. The cable passes over pivot and is attached to the toggle link 2-3-2 at 223. To provide for smooth operation and minimize shocks, an auxiliary spring 230 may be connected to arm 180 and link 2G2 as shown.

A cam 24% is secured by a fin or rib 241 to holder 18 for movement with the reciprocable tool 15. To accommodate the cam, a recess 242 is provided in a rear portion 244 of the machine and an opening 246 is arranged in the downward extension 142 of housing 14%. For cooperation with cam 248, pivot Ztltl has a lever 248 attached thereto at one of its ends to carry a follower or roller 250, the lever 248 being prevented from rotation relative to pivot 21%). in addition, cam portions 252 are provided on arm 13% laterally of its faces =182 and are adapted to cooperate with the follower or roller means 1% in slot 102 (FIG. of tool holder 18, the roller means corresponding to the shape of cam portions 252 in this embodiment.

Operation At the start of the operation the carrier or rocker 156 is in its inclined, billet receiving position, its top being at the feeding station 1 10 as shown in FIG. 7. An adjustable stop screw 260 mounted on the front structure 24 of the machine engages the rocker 150. Billet supporting arm 123i? is in its upper, erected position relative to rocker 1:50, the abutments 210, 211 of the toggle links 202, 2434 being in engagement with each other. After a billet 120 has rolled down the feeding table or chute 114, it is re ceived on the trough-shaped upper faces 182 of arm 18% on which a tool or dummy 122 may likewise be deposited if required.

Fluid motor 156 is then actuated to swing the rocker 154) carrying aum 180 and parts 126, 122- thereon about pivot 152 until an adjustable stop screw 26 2 mounted on housing 146 contacts the rocker which is now in its upright position at the charging station 130 see FIG. 8. When tool holder 18 and stem are moved forward to charge the machine as described in connection with the first embodiment, billet 12d and tool 122 are pushed forward along arm 18d and along the projections 190, 192. Cam 24 1) will engage the follower or roller 250 when the tool holder 18 approaches arm 180 and, with the aid of lever 24% and pivot 2%, will cause toggle link 202 to turn in the direction of arrow 2 64 (FIG. 9) against the force of spring 220'. The associated toggle link 294 and arm 189 will be taken along so that the toggle linkage will be caused to contract and the billet support will be moved to the folded or collapsed position shown in FIG. 10 to clear path 16 for the tool holder 13 and avoid undue interference therewith. If due to improper adjustment or for other reasons the action of cam 24% fails to result in a sufiicient movement of the support arm, he follower means 1% will contact the cam portions 252 to push arm i853 downward, but normally there will be a slight clearance between the elements 166* and 252 as shown in FIG. 10. Rocker 156 with the folded arm 189 thereon remains at the charging station while stem 15 and its holder 18 advance to the PEG. 10 position to complete their working stroke, the rocker and folded arm being accommodated in slot 192 of holder 18.

It is sometimes desirable to clean the container after a working operation. vFor this purpose the stem and its holder will be partially withdrawn so that as shown in FIG. 11 the stem is outside chamber 132 to permit the loading of an auxiliary tool or cleaning disk 276 which fits the bore of chamber 132. tightly. The projections 1%, 192 serve to support tool 270 in alignment with path 16 so that it will be moved into the chamber when stem 15 is advanced again to start the cleaning step.

As soon as the disk 276 is inside the chamber 132, fluid motor 155 may be actuated to swing rocker 150 from underneath the advancing stem 15 back towards the ceding station This is possible without interference between stem 15 and rocker 15% since the projection 1.92 at the side opposite the feeding station 119 is secured to housing 14 and only the projection 1% which is offset from path 16 in the direction toward station participates in the rocker movement, and further since the arm is in its collapsed position at this time. After completing the cleaning step, the stem and its holder will be withdrawn to their initial positions.

The return of arm 18% from its collapsed to its erected position on rocker 156 is achieved automatically. It should be noted that while the rocker is still in an upright or vertical position at the charging station 130', a substantial force of gravity which may be designated G, and which corresponds to the weight of unbalanced, overhanging portions of arm and associated parts, tends to move the arm to, or hold it in, its collapsed position. At this time the direction of the force of gravity G generally coincides with the direction in which a folding movement would occur. However, the two directions will deviate from each other when the rocker 150 is inclined. This is indicated in the diagram of FIG. 12 illustrating a selected position which is either intermediate the charging and feeding stations as shown or may coincide with the latter, and in which the erection of the previously collapsed arm 180 is desired. Rocker 150 has turned from the vertical position with the collapsed arm 1% thereon through an angle alpha so that any unfolding movement would take place in the direction of axis i-i which is inclined to the vertical under the same angle alpha. It will be clear from FIG. 12 that one component T of the gravity force G will now exert a bearing thrust upon the rocker and only the other component C will tend to collapse arm 130. The magnitude of the latter component is determined by the equation C=cos alphaxG With the foregoing considerations in mind, screw 222 is adjusted so that the pull exerted by spring 220 is smaller than the gravity force G but large enough to overcome the component force C in the FIG. 12 position, as well as fnictional resistance to movement of arm 180. Consequently, spring 220 would not be capable of erecting the support arm 180 against the action of force G in the region of the charging station, even in case cam 2 ,0 and roller 1% are withdrawn, but will automatically do so as soon as the intermediate position of FIG. 12 is reached where only the component force C and friction need be overcome. Roller 25%} is above the region of earn 249 in the FIG. 12 position since the rocker is tilted. While the support arm is thus unfolded, rocker 150 continues its motion towards the feeding station 110 and when the latter is reached, the parts are ready to receive the next billet.

Once the support arm 130 has been erected, forces of gravity cannot through their own action cause the collapse of the arm, even not after the billet 122'! and tool 122 have been deposited thereon, since now the toggle links 2532, 2 94 are expanded and substantially in their stnaight or dead-center condition in which. by lock the parts against the effect of gravity forces. Preferably the toggle links are moved even beyond their straight position by the pull of spring 220 to a slight extent until their locking abutments 2%, 211 conta t each other as shown in FIG. 9. In this Way, collapse due to the action of gravity is securely avoided until cam 24%! positively causes the toggle links to turn through their dead-center position and downward in the direction of arrow 264.

If desired, a snap hook (not slhown) may be provided as a safety means to engage one of the toggle links 2&2, 26 4 at the charging station 136 when they are folded. The book should be arranged or dimensioned so that the links are released therefrom when the rocker reaches the region selected for erection of the billet support.

it will be apparent from the foregoing description that the advantages of the first embodiment are also present in the modified form of the invention and in addition the force of gnavity is utilized in an advantageous manner to control the operation of a self-erecting billet support.

Further, beneficial use is made of the carrier member to support an auxiliary or cleaning tool after the billet has been loaded and processed in the machine.

As used herein, the term loading refers generally to the conveying of objects from a region remote from a horizontal path to a position proximate to or in such path, while the term charging refers to shifting the objects along the horizontal path for inserting them in a machine such as shown in the drawings.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made Without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Billet loading apparatus for a machine operating along a substantially horizontal path and including a container extending along said path and adapted to accommodate said billet, comprising a carrier movable generally transversely to said path, said carrier having an initial, billet receiving position with -a portion of the carrier disposed remote from and laterally of said path and a charging position with said portion disposed adjacent said path in close proximity to said container, a movable billet support having a length generally on the order of that of the billet to be loaded and mounted at one of its ends on said portion of the carrier for pivotal motion relative to said carrier about an axis disposed in a plane intersecting said pa-llh substantially at right angles, said movable support having an erected, operative, substantially horizontal position to project from said carrier in alignment with and along said path in the direction away from said container and a collapsed position with the other of its ends swung downwardly to closely approach said carrier, an actuator for reciprocating the carrier with said support thereon between said billet receiving and charging positions, and means for erecting said support to receive a billet in the initial position of said carrier and for swinging said other end of the support downwardly and thus causing said support to collapse and clear said path at a predetermined stage of the operation whereby said carrier may remain in its charging position for a predetermined period of time after collapse of said support.

2. Billet loading apparatus for a machine operating along a substantially horizontal path and including a container extending along said path and adapted to accommodate said billet, comprising a carrier mounted on said machine for movement generally transversely to said path and extending along a minor portion of the length of a billet to be loaded, said carrier having an initial, billet :receiving position with a top portion of the carrier disposed remote from and laterally of said path and a charging position with said top portion disposed adjacent said path in close proximity to said container, a rigid, generally arm-shaped movable billet support having a length generally on the order of that of the billet to be loaded and mounted at one of its ends on said top portion of the carrier for pivotal motion relative to said carrier about an axis disposed in a plane intersecting said path substantially at right angles, said movable support having an ierected, openative, substantially horizontal position generally at right angles to the carrier and aligned with said path to project from said carrier in cantilever fashion in the direction away from said container and a collapsed position With the other of its ends swung downwardly to closely approach said carrier, an actuator on said machine for reciprocating the carrier with said support tlhereon between said billet receiving and charging positions, means mounted on the carrier for erecting the support to receive a billet in the initial position of said carrier, and means for swinging said other end of the support downwardly and thus causing said support to collapse and clear said path at a predetermined stage of the operation, whereby the carrier may remain in its charging position for a predetermined period of time after collapse of said support.

.3. Billet loading apparatus for a machine provided with a container extending along a substantially horizontal path and further provided with a tool reciprocable along said path and operable to charge said billet into said container and then act upon said billet, comprising a carrier mounted on said machine for movement generally transversely to said path, said carrier having an initial, billet receiving position with a top portion of the carrier disposed remote from and laterally of said path and a charging position with said top portion disposed adjacent said path in close proximity to said container, a movable billet support having a length generally on the order of that of the billet to be loaded and mounted at one of its ends on said top portion of the carrier for pivotal motion relative to said carrier about an axis disposed in a plane intersecting said patih substantially at right angles, said movable support having an erected, operative substantially horizontal position to project from the carrier in alignment with and along said path in the direction away from said container and a collapsed position with the other of its ends swung downwardly to closely approach said carrier, an actuator for reciprocating the carrier with said support thereon between said billet receiving and charging positions, means mounted on the carrier for erecting the support to receive a billet in the initial position of said carrier, and cam and follower means for swinging said other end of the support downwardly and thus causing said support to collapse and clear said path when said reciprocable tool reaches a predetermined limit position, one of said cam and follower means being connected to said tool and the other of said cam and follower means being positioned on said support, whereby, upon collapse of said support, said carrier may remain in its charging position while said tool moves from said limit position in the direction towards said container.

4. Billet loading apparatus for a machine operating along a substantially horizontal path and including a container extending along said path and adapted to accommodate said billet, comprising a base, a pair of guide links mounted on said base for pivotal movement about parallel horizontal axes, carrier means including a cross link pivotally connected to said pair of guide links for substantially parallel motion transversely to said path, said carrier means having an initial, billet receiving position with a top portion of the carrier means disposed remote from and laterally of said path and a charging position with said top portion disposed adjacent said path in close proximity to said container, a movable billet support having a length generally on the order of that of the billet to be loaded and mounted at one of its ends on said top portion of the carrier means for pivotal motion relative thereto and about an axis disposed in a plane intersecting said path substantially at right angles, said movable support having an erected, operative substantially horizontal position to project from the carrier means in alignment with and along said path in the direction away from said container and a collapsed position with the other of its ends swung downwardly to closely approach said carrier means, an actuator mounted on said base and connected to one of said guide links for reciprocating the carrier means with said support thereon between said billet receiving and charging positions, and means for erecting said support to receive a billet in the initial position of said carrier means and for swinging said other end of the support downwardly and thus causing said support to collapse and clear said path at a predetermined stage of the operation, whereby said carrier means may remain in its charging position for a predetermined period of time after collapse of said support.

5. Billet loading apparatus for a machine operating along a substantially horizontal path and including a contrainer extending along said path and adapted to accommodate said billet, comprising a carrier mounted on said machine for movement generally transversely to said path and extending along a minor portion of the length of a billet to be loaded, said carrier having an initial, billet receiving position with a top portion of the carrier disposed remote from and laterally of said path and a charging position with said top portion disposed adjacent said path in close proximity to said container, a rigid, armsh-aped movable billet support having a length generally on the order of that of the billet to be loaded and mounted at one of its ends on said top portion of the carrier for pivotal motion relative to said carrier about an axis disposed in a plane intersecting said path substantially at right angles, said movable support having an erected, operative substantially horizontal position generally at right angles to the carrier and aligned with said path to project from said carrier in cantilever fashion in the direction away from said container and a collapsed position with the other of its ends swung downwardly to closely approach said carrier, an angular extension at said other end of the support, a fluid motor on said machine for reciprocating the carrier with said support thereon between said billet receiving and charging positions, an additional fluid motor mounted on the carrier, a link pivotally connected to said additional fluid motor and said support for erecting said support to receive a billet in the initial position of said carrier, and cam and follower means for swinging said other end of the support downwardly and thus causing said support to collapse and clear said path at a predetermined stage of the operation, one of said cam and follower means being movable along said substantially horizontal path and the other of said cam and follower means being disposed on said support and said angular extension thereof, whereby the carrier may remain in its charging position for a preedtermined period of time after collapse of said support.

6. Loading apparatus for receiving a billet at a feeding station and conveying it to a container disposed at a charging station of a machine operating along a substantially horizontal path, comprising a rocker having upper and lower ends and mounted at its lower end on said machine for pivotal movement generally transversely to said path, said rocker having an initial, inclined position at the feeding station with its upper end disposed remote from and laterally of said path and an upright position at the charging station with its upper end disposed adjacent said path in close proximity to said container, a movable billet support having a length on the order of that of the billet to be loaded, a pivot connecting one end of the support to the upper end of the rocker for movement relative to said rbcker with the pivot axis disposed in a plane intersecting said path substantially at right angles, the other end of said movable support projecting from the rocker in an erected, operative, generally horizontal position along said path in the direction away from said container but pointing downwardly and closely approaching said rocker in a collapsed position, an actuator mounted on said machine and pivotally connected to the rocker for reciprocating said rocker with said support thereon between said feeding and charging stations, and mechanism for erecting said support to receive said billet at the feeding station and for swinging said other end of the support downwardly and thus causing said support to collapse at the chargin g station and clear said path when a predetermined stage of the operation is reached, whereby said rocker may remain at the charging station temporarily after collapse of said support.

7. Apparatus as specified in claim 6, in which said mechanism includes resilient means exerting a predetermined force upon the billet support and tending to erect said support, said predetermined force being sufficiently large to overcome friction and a component force of gravity acting upon the support in the direction of collapse in a preselected inclined position of the rocker but being smaller than the force of gravity tending to collapse said support at the charging station where said rocker is in its upright position, engageable locking means being provided for locking the support in its erected position until said predetermined stage of the operation is reached, whereby said support will be automatically caused to assume its erected position in the region of the feeding station and will be maintained in erected condition during movement to the charging station until the support is collapsed upon disengagement of said locking means.

8. Apparatus as specified in claim 7, in which the resilient means acts upon a toggle link-age spaced from said pivot and connecting the rocker and billet support, said linkage being expandable and contractible to erect and collapse the support, and in which the locking means is effective to prevent said linkage from moving beyond a predetermined, generally expanded position.

9. Apparatus as specified in claim 8, including cam and follower means for causing said toggle linkage to contract, one of said cam and follower means being actuated by said machine and the other of said cam and follower means being mounted on said toggle linkage, and additional cam and follower means for acting directly on said billet support so as to cause it to collapse, one of said additional cam and follower means being actuated by said machine and the other of said additional cam and follower means being positioned on said billet support.

10. Apparatus for loading a billet and subsequently an auxiliary disk-like tool in a machine operating along a substantially horizontal path, comprising billet feeding means at one side of said path, a carrier movable generally transversely to said path, said carrier having an initial, billet receiving position with a top portion of the carrier disposed adjacent said feeding means and a charging position with said top portion disposed adjacent said path, a movable billet support mounted on said top portion of the carrier for pivotal motion relative to said carrier about an axis disposed in a plane intersecting said path, said movable support having an erected, operative position to project from said carrier in alignment with said path and a collapsed position closely approaching said carrier, a trough-shaped portion at the top of said billet support, an actuator for reciprocating the carrier with said support thereon between said billet receiving and charging positions, means for erecting said support to receive a billet on its trough-shaped portion and for coll apsing the support to clear said path at a predetermined stage of the operation, a projection on said top portion of the carrier at the side facing said feeding means, and a complementary projection on said machine at the opposite side, said projections being shaped to conjointly form an additional trough-shaped portion in said charging position of the carrier for supporting said auxiliary tool.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,206,185 Graham July 2, 1940 2,596,340 Mahns May 13, 1952 2,976,595 Cook Mar. 28, 1961 2,985,320 Kent May 23, 1961 

1. BILLET LOADING APPARATUS FOR A MACHINE OPERATING ALONG A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PATH AND INCLUDING A CONTAINER EXTENDING ALONG SAID PATH AND ADAPTED TO ACCOMMODATE SAID BILLET, COMPRISING A CARRIER MOVABLE GENERALLY TRANSVERSELY TO SAID PATH, SAID CARRIER HAVING AN INITIAL, BILLET RECEIVING POSITION WITH A PORTION OF THE CARRIER DISPOSED REMOTE FROM AND LATERALLY OF SAID PATH AND A CHARGING POSITION WITH SAID PORTION DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID PATH IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAID CONTAINER, A MOVABLE BILLET SUPPORT HAVING A LENGTH GENERALLY ON THE ORDER OF THAT OF THE BILLET TO BE LOADED AND MOUNTED AT ONE OF ITS ENDS ON SAID PORTION OF THE CARRIER FOR PIVOTAL MOTION RELATIVE TO SAID CARRIER ABOUT AN AXIS DISPOSED IN A PLANE INTERSECTING SAID PATH SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES, SAID MOVABLE SUPPORT HAVING AN ERECTED, OPERATIVE, SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION TO PROJECT FROM SAID CARRIER IN ALIGNMENT WITH AND ALONG SAID PATH IN THE DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID CONTAINER AND A COLLAPSED POSITION WITH THE OTHER OF ITS ENDS SWUNG DOWNWARDLY TO CLOSELY APPROACH SAID CARRIER, AN ACTUATOR FOR RECIPROCATING THE CARRIER WITH SAID SUPPORT THEREON BETWEEN SAID BILLET RECEIVING AND CHARGING POSITIONS, AND MEANS FOR ERECTING SAID SUPPORT TO RECEIVE A BILLET IN THE INITIAL POSITION OF SAID CARRIER AND FOR SWINGING SAID OTHER END OF THE SUPPORT DOWNWARDLY AND THUS CAUSING SAID SUPPORT TO COLLAPSE AND CLEAR SAID PATH AT A PREDETERMINED STAGE OF THE OPERATION WHEREBY SAID CARRIER MAY REMAIN IN ITS CHARGING POSITION FOR A PREDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME AFTER COLLAPSE OF SAID SUPPORT. 